Toy chain

ABSTRACT

A toy construction kit is comprised of a plurality of chain link units connected together to form a toy chain. At least one of the chain link units is provided with one or more engaging portions or members configurated to be releasably engageable with one or more complementary engaging portions or members. A toy construction kit component to be releasably connected to the chain can be provided with such one or more complementary engaging portions or members.

United States Patent 1191 Fischer [451 Apr. 29, 1975 1 TOY CHAIN [22]Filed: Jan. 7, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 431,578

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 13, 1973 Germany 7301232[52] U.S. Cl 59/85; 59/90 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6g 13/04 [58] Field of Search59/85, 90, 87, 88, 91; 46/25, 23

[56 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,805,084 9/1957 Hall 59/85 X2,972,833 2/1961 La Grutta 46/25 3,451,158 6/1969 Fischer 46/23 X c1r 1c3,477,167 11/1969 Ach 46/25 X 3,566,531 3/1971 l-las'el et a1... 46/253,604,203 9/1971 'Hofmann 59/90 3,665,704 5/1972 Trudeau 59/85 3,780,46912/1973 Hancovsky 46/25 Primary Examiner-Milton S. Mehr Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Michael S. Striker [5 7] ABSTRACT 8 Claims, 2 "Drawing FiguresTOY CHAIN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates in generalto toy construction kits of the type comprising toy chains formed from aplurality of chain link units.

In toy construction kits, chains are often used instead of transmissiongearing, when the distance between the source of driving force and thedriven member or members is relatively large. For a chain drive, atleast two chain wheels are necessary, one being the driving chain wheeland the other the driven chain wheel.

In addition to using such chains purely for drive transmission purposes,such chains are often used to transport various loads, objects, movingmembers, etc. When the chains are used for this purpose, it is of coursenecessary to provide some form of connecting means whereby the objectsor moving members to be transported can be readily connected to thechain links for movement therewith. For example, if scoops or bucketsare to be attached to the chain links to form a scoop or bucket conveyorarrangement, some means must be provided whereby the scoops or bucketscan be readily attached to the chain links and equally readily detachedtherefrom when desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the general object of the presentinvention to provide a toy construction kit of the type comprised ofchain link units connected together to form a toy chain, and inparticular to provide one or more of the chain link units with novelconnecting means to make possible a simple mounting of objects ormembers on the chain link for movement therewith, and to also makepossible simple dismounting of such objects or members from the chainlink.

This object, and others which will become more understandable from thefollowing description of an exemplary embodiment, can be met accordingto one advantageous concept of the present invention by providing, in atoy construction kit, in combination, a plurality of chain link unitsconnected together to form a toy chain, and engaging means on at leastone of the chain link units configurated to be releasably engageablewith a complementary engaging means of a predetermined complementaryconfiguration.

The toy construction kit will include one or more accessory components,such as scoops or buckets for the assembly of a scoop or bucketconveyor. Each scoop or bucket will be provided with the just mentionedcomplementary engaging means and will be releasably engag'eable with theengaging means provided on the chain link unit of the toy chain.

According to a further concept of the invention, each chain link unitincludes two side members spaced from each other in direction transverseto the direction of elongation of the chain, with each side memberextending in the general direction of elongation of the chain. The sidemembers of each chain link unit have facing inner sides and also haveouter sides. The side members of each chain link unit furthermore havefirst portions adjoining one or two neighboring chain link units, andhave second portions adjoining the other of the two neighboring chainlink units. The inner sides of the first portions of the side members ofeach chain link unit are spaced from each other a distance at leastequal to the spacing between the outer sides of the second portions ofthe side members of the chain link unit. Each chain link unit furtherincludes connecting means connecting together the two side members ofthe chain link unit and configurated to releasably engage the connectingmeans of the adjoining chain link unit, with the second portions of thetwo side members of each chain link unit being nested between the firstportions of the two side members of the adjoining chain link unit.Advantageously, the engaging means comprises two projecting portionseach of one piece with a respective one of the first portions of theside members of said one of the chain link units, the two projectingportions projecting in direction transverse, preferably perpendicular,to the direction of elongation of the chain.

With this latter possibility, the mentioned connecting means mayadvantageously comprise a first transverse connecting bar joiningtogether the first portions of the two side members of the chain linkunit, and a second transverse connecting bar joining together the secondportions of the two side members of the chain link unit, the secondtransverse connecting bar being provided with an elongated undercutgroove extending along the entire length of the second transverseconnecting bar and configurated to engage with a releasable snapactionthe first transverse connecting bar of the adjoining chain link unit.

The two side members of each chain link unit are advantageously rigidlyconnected by the just-mentioned first and second transverse connectingbars, so that the entire chain link unit is substantially rigid, exceptthat the material of the chain link unit may be somewhat resilient forpurposes of enabling the releasable snapaction engagement of adjoiningchain link units.

Advantageously, the elongated undercut groove in the second transverseconnecting bar is composed of a slit extending along the whole length ofthe groove and constituting the entrance to the groove, with the depthof the slit being oriented transverse to the general plane of the chainlink unit. As a result, force can be transmitted in the direction ofmovement of the chain without any danger of the individual chain linkunits becoming disengaged. This is particularly important when the chainfollows a curved path, e.g., either travelling around a sprocket wheelor sagging between two sprocket wheels.

Providing the engaging means in the form of two projections, each of onepiece with the first portion of a respective one of the two side membersof the chain link unit, is particularly advantageous. The connectiontogether of the chain link units to form a chain is in no way interferedwith; likewise, the operation of the chain for drive transmissionpurposes is not interfered with, inasmuch as the engaging means providedon the selected chain link units will not contact any sprocket wheelsabout which the chain may travel. The releasable engagement between theengaging means on the chain link and accessory units of the toyconstruction kit makes for a very versatile toy construction kit.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows a plurality of chain linkunits connected together to form a toy chain, with an accessorycomponent of a toy construction kit releasably mounted on one of thechain link units; and

FIG. 2 depicts the construction of one exemplary embodiment of a chainlink unit according to the inventlOIl.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 depicts a toy chain 1composed of a plurality of individual chain link units la releasablyconnected together. One of the chain link units 1a is provided withengaging means 2 in the form of two spaced flaring dovetail-shapedprojections. These are slidable into any one of four elongated undercutgrooves 4 of a component 3 of a toy construction kit. The portions ofthe component 3 bounding the undercut grooves constitute complementaryengaging means complementary to the engaging means 2 on the chain linkunit la.

FIG. 2 depicts in perspective view the construction of the one chainlink unit la in FIG. 1 which is provided with the engaging means 2.

It will be seen that the chain link unit la of FIG. 2 is comprised oftwo side members 5. The side members 5 extend more or less in thegeneral direction of elongation of the chain, and are spaced feom eachother in direction transverse to the general direction of elongation ofthe chain.

The side members 5 have facing inner sides and also have outer sides.The side members 5 are furthermore comprised of flat and parallel firstportions joined together by a first transverse connecting bar 7. Theside members 5 are also comprised of fiat and parallel second portionsjoined together by a second transverse connecting bar 6.

The facing inner sides of the first portions of the side members 5 (theportions joined by bar 7) are spaced from each other by a distance equalto or greater than the distance between the outer sides of the secondportions of the side members 5 (the portions joined by bar 6).

The transverse connecting bars 6 and 7 constitute connecting means forconnecting together not only the two side members 5 of a particularchain link unit la, but also for connecting together neighboring chainlink units 1a.

Specifically, the second transverse connecting bar 6 is provided with anelongated undercut groove 8. The groove 8 extendsalong the whole lengthof the connecting bar 6, and furthermore passes through the secondportions of the side members 5. The groove 8 is i comprised of acylindrical cavity, and of an elongated slit 9. Slit 9 extends along thewhole length of the groove 8 and constitutes the entrance into thegroove.

To connect together the chain link units 1a, the first transverseconnecting bar 7 of one chain link unit la is inserted into the slit 9of another chain link unit la, and pressed into the cylindrical portionof the groove 8 with a releasable snap-action. To this end, the materialof the chain link units 1a is somewhat resilient. When the chain linkunits la are thusly connected together, the second portions of one chainlink unit (i.e., the portions joined by bar 6) will be nested betweenthe first portions of the next chain link unit (i.e., nested between theportions joined by bar 7). The diameter of the cylindrical portion ofgroove 8 is slightly greater than the diameter of cylindrical bar 7,whereas the width of entrance slit 9 is somewhat less than the diameterof cylindrical bar 7.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second portions of eachside member 5 are both flat and are parallel to each other, but offsetfrom each other in stepped manner. The engaging means are provided inthe form of flaring dovetail-shaped projections 2 of one piece with thefirst portions of the respective side members 5. The projections 2project in direction transverse to the direction of elongation of thechain and substantially perpendicular to the general plane of theillustrated chain link 1a. It will be noted that the facing innersurfaces of the projections'2 constitute smooth continuations of thefacing inner surfaces of the first portions of side members 5. Likewise,the outer surfaces of projections 2 constitute smooth continuations ofthe outer surfaces of the first portions of side members 5.

The chain links 1a are preferably formed from plastie, and canadvantageously be formed in one piece together with the engaging means 2by means of injection molding, for example.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in atoy chain provided with engaging means for the releasable mounting onthe chain of components of a toy construction kit, it is not intended tobe limited to the details shown, since various modifications andstructural changes may be made without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:

1. In a toy construction kit, in combination, a plurality of chain linksconnected together to form a toy chain, each chain link unit includingtwo side members spaced from each other in direction transverse to thedirection of elongation of said chain and extending in the generaldirection of elongation of said chain, the side members of each chainlink unit having facing inner sides and also having outer sides, theside members of each chain link unit having first portions adjoinmeansof the adjoining chain link unit, with the second portions of the twoside members of each chain link unit being nested between the firstportions of the two side members of the adjoining chain link unit; andengaging means on at least one of said chain link units configurated tobe releasably engageable with a complementary engaging means of apredetermined complementary configuration, said engaging meanscomprising two projecting portions each of one piece with a respectiveone of the first portions of the side members of said one of said chainlink units and each projecting in direction transverse to the directionof elongation of said chain.

2. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said twoprojecting portions are undercut projections.

3. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 2, wherein saidundercut projections are flaring dovetailshaped projections.

4. in a toy construction kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said twoprojecting portions have facing inner surface portions and respectiveouter surface portions constituting smooth continuations of the innerand outer surfaces of the first portions of the two side members of saidone of said chain link units.

5. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 1, wherein the firstportions of the two side members of each unit are flat and parallel, andwherein the second portions of the two side members of each unit areflat and parallel, and wherein the first and second portions of eachside member are parallel to but offset from each other.

6. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said twoprojecting portions project in direction perpendicular to the directionof elongation of said chain.

7. in a toy construction kit as defined in claim 1, wherein theconnecting means of each chain link unit comprises a transverseconnecting bar joining together the first portions of the two sidemembers of the chain link unit, and wherein the second portions of thetwo side members of each chain link unit are configurated to engage theconnecting bar of the adjoining chain link unit with a releasablesnap-action.

8. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 1, wherein theconnecting means of each chain link unit comprises a first transverseconnecting bar joining together the first portions of the two sidemembers of the chain link unit, and wherein the connecting means of eachchain link unit further comprises a second transverse connecting barjoining together the second portions of the two side members of thechain link unit, the second transverse connecting bar being providedwith an elongated undercut groove extending along the entire length ofthe second transverse connecting bar and configurated to engage with areleasable snap-action the first transverse connecting bar of theadjoining chain link unit.

1. In a toy construction kit, in combination, a plurality of chain linksconnected together to form a toy chain, each chain link unit includingtwo side members spaced from each other in direction transverse to thedirection of elongation of said chain and extending in the generaldirection of elongation of said chain, the side members of each chainlink unit having facing inner sides and also having outer sides, theside members of each chain link unit having first portions adjoining oneof two neighboring chain link units and having second portions adjoiningthe other of the two neighboring chain link units, the inner sides ofthe first portions of the side members of each chain link unit beingspaced from each other a distance at least equal to the spacing betweenthe outer sides of the second portions of the side members of the chainlink unit, each chain link unit further including connecting meansconnecting together the two side members of the chain link unit andconfigurated to releasably engage the connecting means of the adjoiningchain link unit, with the second portions of the two side members ofeach chain link unit being nested between the first portions of the twoside members of the adjoining chain link unit; and engaging means on atleast one of said chain link units configurated to be releasablyengageable with a complementary engaging means of a predeterminedcomplementary configuration, said engaging means comprising twoprojecting portions each of one piece with a respective one of the firstportions of the side members of said one of said chain link units andeach projecting in direction transverse to the direction of elongationof said chain.
 2. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 1,wherein said two projecting portions are undercut projections.
 3. In atoy construction kit as defined in claim 2, wherein said undercutprojections are flaring dovetail-shaped projections.
 4. In a toyconstruction kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said two projectingportions have facing inner surface portions and respective outer surfaceportions constituting smooth continuations of the inner and outersurfaces of the first portions of the two side members of said one ofsaid chain link units.
 5. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim1, wherein the first portions of the two side members of each unit areflat and parallel, and wherein the second portions of the two sidememberS of each unit are flat and parallel, and wherein the first andsecond portions of each side member are parallel to but offset from eachother.
 6. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 1, wherein saidtwo projecting portions project in direction perpendicular to thedirection of elongation of said chain.
 7. In a toy construction kit asdefined in claim 1, wherein the connecting means of each chain link unitcomprises a transverse connecting bar joining together the firstportions of the two side members of the chain link unit, and wherein thesecond portions of the two side members of each chain link unit areconfigurated to engage the connecting bar of the adjoining chain linkunit with a releasable snap-action.
 8. In a toy construction kit asdefined in claim 1, wherein the connecting means of each chain link unitcomprises a first transverse connecting bar joining together the firstportions of the two side members of the chain link unit, and wherein theconnecting means of each chain link unit further comprises a secondtransverse connecting bar joining together the second portions of thetwo side members of the chain link unit, the second transverseconnecting bar being provided with an elongated undercut grooveextending along the entire length of the second transverse connectingbar and configurated to engage with a releasable snap-action the firsttransverse connecting bar of the adjoining chain link unit.